Slough Borough Council is urging residents to help them ensure the safety and wellbeing of Slough children being cared for by someone who is not a direct relative.
The Slough call to action is part of the national campaign, Somebody Else’s Child from January 19 to 25, run by the British Association for Adoption and Fostering (BAAF), and aims to raise awareness of private fostering.
Slough’s fostering team will be at the Queensmere shopping centre on Friday, January 16, from 10am to 2pm,to give advice and information to residents and to be on hand for any questions.
Private fostering describes an arrangement when someone, who is not a close relative and cares for another person’s child for an extended period of time. Although this is done by private arrangement, legally the parent and the carer must notify the local authority where the child is going to live so it can ensure the child is being properly looked after.
Nobody knows exactly how many children are privately fostered, but in 2001 the Department of Health estimated there could be as many as 10,000 in England and Wales. It is feared that some of these ‘invisible’ children could be at risk of abuse, or victims of trafficking.
In the year to March 2008 there were only three notifications of private fostering arrangements in Slough. However experts believe there could be many more. The council is particularly asking people who work with children to be aware of private fostering and inform them immediately if they suspect such an arrangement.
Tina Ryan, fostering team manager for Slough Borough Council, said: “Once we know about a private fostering arrangement, a social worker will check the suitability of the agreement and continue to make regular visits to ensure the child is safe and well cared for in addition to offering support and advice to the carers.
“This support will include information about benefits that the carer may be entitled to. Parents of the child will also have the reassurance that we are monitoring the care of their child and that they can contact us if they have any concerns.
“However, if we don’t know about these arrangements, we can’t carry out this duty and carers and parents need to know that failure to notify us is a criminal offence and they could risk a fine.”
Commissioner for education and children’s services, Cllr Sukhjit Dhaliwal, said: “Everybody has a role in keeping our children safe, whether they’re a teacher, youth worker or neighbour. If anyone hears of a child being privately fostered, please let the council know immediately, so it can ensure the child is being kept safe.”
For more information on private fostering or Karl Davis at Slough Borough Council on 0800 073 0291 or email familyplacement@slough.gov.uk.
Slough Borough Council
